Vending machine



April 14, 1942. D. D. BRODIE ETAL 2,279,936

VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet l I s} f g M QM [45/0 ATTORNEY.

April 14, 1942. o. D. BRODIE ETAL 2,279,935

VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Paced Cfilaic INVENTORS BY A/M Z2240 7 5 12 ATTORNEY.

April 14, 1942. D. D. BRODIE ET AL VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS %Z6 79 578 ATTORNEY.

April 14, 1942. D. D. BRODIE ET AL VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I N VEN TORS f //6 ATTORNEY.

Aprifl 14, 1942. D. n. BRODIE ET AL VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1939 5 sheets sheet 5 1 N VENTORS lililiN lla IIIIIIIIIIII lsliuliliulili I T/v E/R/ ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 14, 1942 7 VENDING MACHINE Damon D. Brodie, Long Beach, 0alil'., and Paul 0. Blair, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 28, 1939, Serial No. 311,240

14 Claims.

This invention relates to vending and dispensing machines and has as a principal object the provision of a console type machine for vending cigarettes and other packaged items. I Another object is the provision of a console type machine having a. large storage capacity and means for displaying the actual package or item which will be delivered to the'patron upon deposit of a proper number of coins and operation of selective control means.

A further object is the provision of a vending machine having a plurality of display compartments each provided with a trap retaining a packaged item or the like in view of the patron,

a coin control unit common,to all traps and push button means associated with each trap, certain groups of push buttons, corresponding to items having a certain price, being rendered operable when the adequate number or amount of coins is deposited, only one button, however,'being operable at a time.

Yet another object is the provision of storage compartments for each display compartment and a common elevator and mechanism for automatically ejecting an article from the storage compartment or trap when an article has been vended from the latter, whereby the emptied compartment or trap is refilled.

Yet another object is the provision of a plurality of storage compartments for each display compartment or trap and means for successively ejecting articles from one storage compartment until it is emptied and then ejecting articles from the next compartment of the group.

A further object is the provision of selective coin control means including a push button for each display compartment, latch releasing means for each push button, and an interconnecting selector common to all push buttons for rendering certain of the same operable depending upon the number of coins deposited in the coin control.

Yet another object is the provision of means;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section along line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Y

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section along line 33 of Fig. '2 above the selector means;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail through one of the selector buttons along line H of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail through one of the i v latch operating levers taken along line 5-5 of ,of the refill ejector units, the view being complementary to Fig. 6;

Fig; 8 is a fragmentary rear perspective of one of thestorage compartments and the storage compartment transfer mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary rear perspective at the lower end of the machine, showing the match pack ejector means and main driving motor, the

figure being complementary to the right-hand end of Fig. 7; i

Fig. 10 is an elevational fragmentat the right end of the machine showing the clutch bail operating drive from the main drive shaft;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional fragment through i the refill ejector mechanism; a

Fig. 12 is a vertical section looking outward toward an end of the machine and the match pack storage compartments, the view being supplemental to Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a sectional detail through the match dispensing machine includes a console type cabinet 20, shown in Fig. 1, in the front wall of which is disposed a display window 2| behind which are a plurality of individual display compartments or traps 22 in each of which a package of cigarettes or like merchandise reposes in plain view of the prospective customer. Above the display window are a series of selector buttons 23, h

to the left of which are the entrances 24 and 25 to a coin chute, the entrance 24 being adapted to whether he "wants a,five.'ten or fifteen cent item.

The amount deposited will be indicated by the lighted lamps or windows 26, described more par- .1. ticularly hereinafter, and the patron then pushes.

one of the buttons 23 corresponding to the item he desires and for which he has deposited an adequate sum. Upon pushing the appropriate 1 1 button 23, the corresponding trap bearing the article which he desires, will be released to gravitate the article into a discharge chute leading to a delivery opening 28 beneath the window.

An important feature of the-invention resides in thefact that there may be several brands or items selling at the same price and all of the control buttons 23 corresponding to items selling at thatprice will be rendered operable, although only one button may in fact-be actuated.

As soon as the patron presses one of the buttons 23,- mechanism is set into' operation to reof the rod and ratchet to normal position when one of the traps 22 is released in a manner to be described.

Rockably mounted on the selector shaft or bar 35 adjacent each of the selecting buttons is 'a latch operating lever 42 provided with an offset cam arm 43 adapted to be engaged by the inner end 231: of the corresponding push button shank provided the lever 42 is shifted from its normal positioninto alignment with said end of the button. ,The cam arm 43 being eccentrically mounted with respect to the, bar 35 will swing or rock clockwise, (Fig. 2) when the inner end 2341 of the push button is pressed against it and thereby cause the lever 42 to swing in a like manner.

Rocking movement .of the latch operating -members 42. is limited in one direction by means of a stop pin 44 fixed on the rod 35 and fitted into a slot 45 in the lever 42 (Fig. 5). Each lever v 42 is connected by a rod 45to a compartment fill the emptied compartment or trap, and during this time a special blocking device is also oper-' ated to block the coin entrances 24 and 25 during a short interval of time; approximately twenty seconds, required for refilling the trap. Selective coin control and trap release mechanism Referring to Fig. 6, the coin deposit opening 24 leads into a chute 24a which discharges into a coin testing device 30, while the ten-cent coin entrance 25 leads into a chute 25a likewise discharging into the testing device in which the ten-,cent'piece follows a'passage 25b leading" past two coin switches 3| and 32, both'of which are operated by the coin. The five-cent coin, however. follows a different passage 24b which guides the coin only past the lower switch 32. Both switches 3| and 32 are connected in a circuit 33 with a selector operating magnet, and it will therefore be apparent that for each five-cent piece deposited, switch 32 will be closed once and magnet 34 will therefore be impulsedonce, while each ten-cent piece deposited, engaging both switches, will impulse the magnet 34 twice.

The selecting mechanism includes a selector bar 35 mountedto shift axially toward the magnet 34 in the region behind the several push buttons 23, a spring 36 urging the bar into a nor-, mal position toward the left away from the magnet.- One end of the bar is attached, by a suitablejoint 31,'to a ratchet disc- 38 arranged to be movedstep by stepby an armature 39 actuated by magnet 34. As seen in Figsl 3 and 6 a p n 31' is eccentrically arranged on disc 38 and pivotally connects the latter tothe arm '3'l such that upon each step of the disc 38 (clockwise, Fig. 6) the pin will be moved a substantial distance to the right, the ratchet'being effective therefore to move the rod from its normal position a number of steps corresponding to the number of times the magnet 34 is impulsed, depending upon the number and value of coins deposited. a stepping and release pawl 40' prevents retrograde movement o'f the ratchet, but maybe withdrawn by p or trip latch 41 pivoted as at 48 behind one of the compartment-traps 22. the latter being hinged as ati 22aand eachhaving an oflset'wing portion 22b engaging the end of the latch so as to be held by the latter in-a position toward the window 2| (see Fig. 2). In the preferred construction only the'back portions of each compartment or trap are movable on hinge 22a, the vertical side wings or partitionsbeing' stationary, and while the traps would fall of their own' weight, especially when urged bythe added weight of the, cigarette package, auxiliary means are provided .to expedite the dropping of the trap, all of which will appear hereinafter.

Match pack delivery and delivery chute blocking In the present machine, arrangement is made to deliver a packet'of matches with each package of cigarettes, and to this end there has been shown in Fig. '6 a special compartment or trap 22M identical, in most respects, with the other traps 22, except that on the offset wing portion thereof it carries a mercury switch 50 and is provided with a special form of latch 41a having an offset all: at its free end for engagement with an operating finger 5| for a fraud-preventive blocking plate or gate 52 (Fig. 2) fixed to a cross shaft 53 which is urged by springs 54-54a, connected to lever arms 55 and 53 and having there on opposite ends fixed to the main frame, into normally lowered position and moved into raised position to blockaccess through the package delivery chute 51 (Fig. 2) during the time any trap is sprung in a manner later to be described.

The oflfset 41b of the match-pack'latch releasing lever engages the end of the finger 5|, while the traps are all set, thatis, in article supporting position, so that the fraud-preventive blockinggate 521s open preparatory to the discharge of apa'ckage. i

The match-pack releasing latch is connected by a rod4lc to a'lever arm 58 fixed on the selector bar 35 so that each time the latter is rocked responsive to selective release of any trap, the latch lever 41a is likewise tripped to free the match pack trap, 22M for delivery of a packet of matches. Immediately upon a tripping of the trap 22M as aforesaid the mercury switch 53 carried thereby will be tilted therewith into circuit closingcondition thereby" energizing thereset magnet 4| to attract the pawl, out of latching engagement with the ratchet. 33 freeing the latter for retrogrademovement back to normal position by action of the spring 36 on the rod 35.

2,279,936 Referring to Fig. 3, where the selector bar as is shown in its normal, position with the cam arms 43 of the several latch operating levers 42 displaced from operative engagementwith respect to the end portions 23a of the several operating buttons, it will be apparent that each step. of the ratchet 36' will dispose, the cam arms 43- closer to their respective operatingbuttons.

Selector bar operation and coin signalling 1 twice and bring the cam lever 43a opposite the end of the corresponding push button, which may then be depressed to rock.the rod and release the corresponding trap as heretofore described.

There may be several cam levers spaced similarly to the lever 43a and in order to prevent the possibility of operating more than one push button effectively, there is provided a special blocking mechanism including a channel member 66 (Figs. 2 and 6 also) through which the shanks of each of the buttons 23 pass, blocking balls 6| being arranged on opposite sides of each shank with adjustable spacing blocks 62 disposed be;- tween the nearest balls of each adjoining pair of button shanks, and each shank having a pin 63 (Fig. 4) fixed thereon in a position to pass between the corresponding pair of balls against the tension of a spring 64 whenthe button is de-' pressed, it being apparent that the movement of any pin 63 in between the corresponding pair ofballs will displace the same and the adjoining blocking member 62 so as to prevent similar movement of any other pin 63, thus making it possible to depress only one of the buttons 23 at a time, notwithstanding the fact that severalof the same may be in condition otherwise for selective operation. I

Signal means for apprising the patron of the number of coins deposited includes the provision of a plurality of signal lamps, generally indicated at 26, andindividually designated 26a, 26b and 260 in Fig. 3, the lightin of the first otwhich indicates the deposit of a singlefive-cent coin, the second of which indicates the deposit of two releasing the .trap, which movement causes a finger 65 (Fig. 6) to engage one end of a loop 61 on a rod attached to a switch 'operating'lever-fl which is in turn linked by a rod 69 with a switch v carrying lever 16 pivoted as at H on the main frame and normally disposing a mercury switch 12 in open circuit condition. v 1

Switch 12 is connected in a-circuit 13 with the main driving motor M (Fig. 9) which, through a suitable worm drive, turns the main drive shaft 15, driving a pair of sprocket chains 16 and 1611 (Figs. 6 and 9 together; also Fig. 14) in a clock- Wise direction, starting a pair of cams l1 and "a from their normal positions at the top flight of the chains for movement down beneath an elevator "plate 19 upon which there will be resting a new package, as well as a'packet of matches, as the result of the operation of certain ejecting mechanism in the intervals between the time the cams start down and engage the underside of the elevator plate. The plate 19 is arranged such that when the cams l1 and 11a start their upward flight these cams will lift the plate 19 until the cams ride over the upper sprocket over 1 which their respective chains are trained.

The elevator plate 19 is arranged so as to be common to all storage compartments and display compartments or traps and therefore extends substantially across the width of the machine as illustrated particularly in Fig. '14. This plate is normally disposed in the lowered position seen in the latter figure and is guided in its -movement upon vertical rods 80 at opposite ends thereof and each passing through a laterally elongated slot 8| in the plate. The elevator plate is mounted for rocking movement to discharge five-cent coins or one ten-cent coin, and the I. made by the ratchet. Thus, if one ten-cent piece is deposited, both switches. 3| and 32 will be closed in sequence, energizing the ratchet step- 1 ping magnet 34 twice and causing the ratchet 38 to take two steps from normal position, 'thus bringing the contact arm 26d .onto the second I contact 26c to illuminate bulb 26b.

Refilling and resetting mechanism Assuming that'one of the compartments 22, as well as the match pack compartment 22M, has been tripped, mechanism is automatically started to reset the trap and transfer or deliver a- Operation of this mechanism isinitiated by 75 fresh package thereto.

the articles carried thereby into the traps 22 adjacent the elevator plate I9, this mounting being accomplished, as shown in Fig. 15, by the provision of an attaching bracket 82 hinged to'the plate as 'at 83 and havin an upper offset 84 provided with an elongated slot 85 through which the guide post 80 extends for engagement with I a roller86. A spring 81 pivots the hinged bracket member 82 to the limit of its movement toward the plate 19 in an arrangement which maintains the latter in an approximately horizontal condition to support the items carried thereby. The plate 19 when raised by cams l1 and Tla; aforesaid, to the top sprocket will engage a bracket 96, fixed upon the main frame ad jacent each endof the plate 19, to tilt the plate l9 and discharge the articles carried thereby into the respective trap 22 as seen in Fig. 2.

Spacing angles 19a are disposed across the elevator plate in alignment with corresponding,

compartments or traps and corresponding storage compartments. I The elevator plate 19 is counterweighted by 'means of a counterweight 69 working on.rods

and connected by a pulley cord-9| having one end anchored to the main frame and its opposite end trained through a pulley 89' carried by the counterweight 89, and branched as at 92 to pass overpulleys, 93, 94, 94a (Fig. 14) for connection as at 95 toopposite ends of the elevator plate,

the object of the counterweight being to permit the elevator plate 19, which is slightly heavier than the counterweight 89, to drop easily into the normal position shown in Fig. 14 preparatory to reception of replenishing items from the stor age compartments. By the same token the counterweight-89 relieves the load on the driving mom when the platell a mtdty' man, of

the cams l1 and 'l'la on drive chains It and "a.

It being assumed that a fresh package of cisarettes or thelike and a packet of matches have been deposited onthe elevator plate in its lowered condition at the time the sprocket chains Ii begin their movement .asaforesaid, the 1 cams I1 and .110 will ,ultimatelybe carried around against the underside of the plate In and raisethe latter tordotted' line position shown in Fig. 2, at which;tim e the plate .will-bear-against tripping brackets, (Fig. 14am) causing the plate torock into the positionshown in dotted lines in Fig. 15, which dislodges' the itemstcarriedthereon for movement into their respective traps, for example. the package trap-22, and .the match pack trap Hill of 6, the cams TI and Ila aava'aao inrthe machine and inlconseouence behind each of the spaces defined by thespacing'brackets "a.

on the elevator-plate. shown in Fig. 2, each 1storagecompartment consists of at least two chambers IIla and:,illb,one behind the other I inalignment with the traps-it being intended that both compartmentsbeloadedwith packages of merchandiseP. i

The arrangementissuch that the electors will empty the rearward compartment of each group first, this being accomplished bythe provision ofasustaining platform III='(Figs..2, 7-and'8) be- 1 neath each forward chamber-or compartment of each group of storage compartments, this platform being in the nature 'of a plate which is I hinged asat I I2 atone side of the' compartment riding from beneath the elevator plate toward I their normal full line position shown in Figs. 2

and 14 whereinthe chain is automatically stopped by means shortly to be described.. As soon as the cams pass from beneath'the elevator.

plate, .the latter drops to normally lowered posi.

tionshown in 14.

stoppage of the motor and elevator driving sprocketais accomplished by the left-hand cam and which is sustained in normally raised position by a tripping lever II! pivoted as at I I4 and having an offset free end H5 which is urged by a spring I IE to project the nose Illa beneaththe outer end of the platform I I I to sustain the lat-. ter in raised. condition supporting the lowermost package in the forward'compartment'at a level' several packages high abovethe lowermost level Ila which (as shown in Fig. 6), after passing the;

topmost point in its flight. bearsQagainst an;.oif-' set I'lbcarried .on the side of the resetting .lever 68 pivoting the latter back to normal position; which through link I! pivots the switch carrying lever- 'III' to normal position 0penlng switch I; and breaking circuit to the driving motor '14;

there being a slight movement of the chain and cam 11a after the circuit to the motor 14 is shut off to allow the cam IIa to-pass beyond the off-;

lever Ill, pivoted as at III, to dispose a blocking plate II! inblocking position before the coin entrances 2i and 15 interiorly of the machine.

, Suchmovement is .effected'by a lever II} having a rollerlfl' at its free end bearing against and.

' packagejof the group in the forward compartment at a level for engagement by the follower II'I interlocked (Fig. 11) with the reclprocable riding in a trackway providedby: arcuate offset arms I" on the blocking lever. the lever Ill beingmounted on a shaft III" which is supportedfor pivotal movement on a stationary bracket SB rocked'by a peculiarly shaped cam bar III fixed to shaft I03" 'and'having upper and lower contact faces I and Ill respectively. In this iigure (16),-the cam II isshown in its normal positicn of rest 1081 below the top .01 its flight, and

when the driving motor is first started, cam 11 rides against the lower contact face Ill and through the rocking movement of parts III}, Ill and III effects a tilting of the blochng lever III to dispose the blocking; plate IOIyover the coin entrances 24 and 2! as shown in dotted lines; Fig. 16'. when the cam 11 returns to its normal osition, passing over the top of'its flight, it engages the contact face I06. rocking the aforesaid levers in the opposite direction and restoring the blocking lever Ill from dottedline position to the normal'full line position shown.

Article storage and ejecting me ns.

As shown in Fig. '1, an article storage compart.

ment III is situated behind'eachof the traps 22 of either compartment so that the articles may be ejected or fed-from the .rearmost compartment beneath the sustained articles in we faremost compartment'until there are no longer any articles in the rearmost compartment, whereupon the sustaining lever 3 1s tripped automatically. An ejector IISmoves the bottom article from the rearstackninbeneath the raised stack in front, and the succeeding package from l the 'rear compartment will finally eject the preceding package from the front compartment Thus, any number of compartments may be arranged'in this'manner. Tripping of *the sustaining II! adapted to engage the offset lli on the tripping lever when the last package in the rear compartment is ejected, therebyrocking, the lever to withdraw the nose Ilia and: permit theplatform 'III to-fall, disposing the lowermost ejector III by a wedge projection IIIa dovetailed into slot Iliaso that ejector I II and follower III move as aunit. w

' "Ejector operating v As shown in Fig.7 particularly, an of the re ciprocable electors III .is provided witha clutch hook I20 pivoted thereon to .be rocked from La normally pendent and ineffective position such as shown in Fig. 7, into a raised position as shown in Fig. 11, for engagement with a common clutch bailrod I2I rocked on a crossshaft II! by a driving linkage laiFigs. Bland 10) I24, with the maindrive shaft 15. The normal position of the 'bail is shown in Figs. 7 andr9, and when the motor I4 is energized by operation of the selector bar as aforesaid, the clutchjbail I2I' begins to -mcve forward for engagement with any of the clutch hooks. I20 which'may be .in raised position, whereby to pull the corresponding elector.

II into engagement with the lowermost. packageof whichever stackis being used,'s'uch package beingpushed-in between the corresponding partition brackets "a on the elevator plate. I

Selective actuation of the clutch hooks Ill is lever is accomplished by the provision of :1? weighted follower I I1 placed on the topmost'package in the rear compartment and'providedwith a tripping wing effected by means of a Bowden wire I operatively connected to a clutch operating finger or lever I26 associated with each ejector. Reading Figs. 6 and 7 together, the upper end I25a of each Bowden wire is passed through a notch I21 (Fig. 6) at the juncture of the wing 22b and the trap plate 22 for attachment to the back of the latter. As shown in Figs. 2 and "7, a spring I28 is attached to each clutch operating finger to urge the latter against the corresponding clutch hook for movement of the latter into operative position and at the same time to give a corresponding pull upon the Bowden wire I25. The particular trap 22 to which the Bowden wire is attached being latched by the lever 41 as heretofore described and by the same token the corresponding clutch finger I26 is latched against movement by its spring I28. As soon as any of the latches 47 is released by operation of a selected button 23 and its lever 42 to pull upward on rod 46, the corresponding merchandise compartment or trap 22 is quickly pulled into article releasing position by action of the Bowden wire responsive to the effort of the spring I28 associated with the corresponding clutch operating finger I26. the latter quickly moving the corresponding clutch hook into operative position for engagement by bail I2I which then pulls the corresponding ejector block I I9 forward in ejecting action. All of the foregoing operations take place in a brief interval a considerable time before the cams II arrive beneath the elevator plate, so that the fresh package and match pack will be deposited on the elevator with allowance of a good time margin before the elevator begins its upward movement.

The ejectors are automatically released at the end of their ejecting stroke by the provision of a cam nose I26a at the end of each finger and a corresponding cam portion I2Ila on each clutch hook, the arrangement being such that the fingers will slip out of operative engagement with their respective clutch hooks at the end of their forward stroke with the ejector, the ejector being retracted t its normal position by action of the bail I2| in moving back to the normal position of Fig. 7 from the advanced position of Fig. 11.

Match pack storage and ejection The match packs are stored in a series of four vertical compartments I30 extending laterally at one end of the machine as shown in Fig, 12 and in part in Fig. 9. Each of these chutes is provided with a reciprocable ejector I3I and mechanism is arranged to operate these ejectors in sequence, this mechanism including the provision of four cams I32, each offset 90 degrees with respect to the other on a shaft I33, each cam being positioned opposite the end of one of the ejecting slides I3I. Thus, as shaft I33 is rotated. cams I32 successively move their cor-' responding ejector slides I 3I in ejecting operation, each slide having a spring I3Ia (Fig. 13)

arranged to restore the same when the cam passes out of engagement therewith.

Means for rotating the shaft I33 a quarter of a revolution upon each refill operation of the elevator includes the provision of a star gear or ratchet I34 (Fig. 13 particularly) fixed on shaft I33 and connected by a link I35 to a lever I36 pivoted as at I31 and having a free end portion I38 disposed to be engaged by the cam 11 as the same passes down from normally raised position to engage the underside of the elevator.

The lever I36 is urged to its normal position against a stop bracket 3" (Fig. 9) by a coil spring I36 having one end fixed to lever I36 near the portion I38 thereof and an opposite end anchored to the main frame; the link I35 being constantly urged toward the ratchet I34 by spring means I34.

Thus, the match pack ejectors I3I will each in succession be reciprocated once forevery revolution of shaft I33, one of the ejectors being operated for every complete cycle of movement of the elevating cams 'II-IIa to effect dislodg- 'ment of a packet of matches M (Fig. 9) from one of the compartments I30 into a common match delivery chut I3I'Ia (Fig. 12 also) which is inclined to discharge onto the elevator plate Trap resetting Resetting of the traps as well as the fraudpreventive chute blocking gates 52 is effected by a reset bar I 43 (Figs. 2 and 6) journaled to extend across the machine behind the several traps and provided with a plurality ,of pins I,

each disposed to bear against the back of one.

of the trapswhen the shaft is rocked (counterclockwise Fig. 2; clockwise Fig. 6) to pivot the traps back into set position, the several latching members 41, by the greater weight on the, lever side plus the weight of the rod 46 attached thereto, automatically snapping into latching position while the latch 41a is urged by a spring 41' to cause its latching end to snap into position to latch the trap 22M.

Rocking of the resetting shaft I48 is accomplished by a lever I42 fixed thereon and connected as at I43 with a rod I44 which extends to the bottom of the machine (conveniently located by placing Fig. 7 below Fig. 6), which. rod is in turn connected to one arm of a bell crank I45. A spring I46 is attached to the opposite end of the bell crank to urge the latter and the connected resetting shaft into a normal position as shown in Fig. 6. This latter arm of the bell crank is connected by a rod M1 to a lever I48 rigid on a common resetting bail shaft I49, the

latter carrying a resetting bail I 58 disposed in a normal rearward position as shown in Figs. 2 and 6 and extending across the machine before the several clutch hooks on the individual ejectors in such manner as to be engaged and rocked by any clutch hook in operative position in the manner illustrated in solid and dotted lines in Fig. 11, the arrangement being such that as the ejectors move forward in ejecting operation, the resetting bail is rocked thereby into the full line position shown in Fig, 11, which in turn rocks the lever I48, the bell crank I45, and, in consequence, the resetting shaft I 40, causing pins I4I to push any released trap back into latched po- .sition and at the same time cause the Bowden Summary of operation Referring to Fig. 6, it will be assumed that one I five-cent piece and one ten-cent pieceare deposited respectively in chutes 24a and 25a. The five-cent piece will engage and actuate switch .32 once. causing magnet 54 to be energized once; the ten-cent coin will engage and operate both switches 3| and 32, causing magnet 34 to be energized twice, making a total of three operations of'this magnet, armature 39 of which will therefore step the ratchet 38 three times, thus shift- I ing the selector rod .35 three steps toward the the end 23a of the corresponding releasing plung- :1

er or button 20, which the patron now depresses, causing the entire latch releasing lever assembly The shifting of rod 35 three steps I 42b-43b to rock in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 6). Since the trap which corresponds to the releasing lever 42b of Fig. 3 is not seen in Fig. 6, it will now be assumed that the trap 22 is being operated as a result of the rocking of the latch releasing lever and shift bar 35, as

just explained in view of Fig. 3, such operation resulting in the elevating of the rod 45 and rocking the latchlever 41 out of engagement with the wing 22b. so that trap 22 may fall back both by action of gravity and as a result of Bowden wire I25 thereon.

-As the selector shaft 35 is thus rocked, the main of the pull motor switch I2 is closed through the linkage 5541--59, starting motor 'I4.- Rocking of .theselector shaft 05 also trips the match pack latch 41a through the linkage 4'Ic-58, and movement of the match pack trap 22M into released position closes switch 50. which energizes the ratchet releasing or resetting magnet 4I, thereby permitting the selector shaft 35 and ratchet 38 to restore to normal position. Releaseof traps 22 and 22M efiects the discharge of a fifteencent package of cigarettes 'and a packet of matches into the common discharge chute 51. Releaseof the match pack latching lever 41a also withdraws the oil'set end portion 4'") thereof from restraining engagement with the finger corresponding Bowden wire I25 for movement aforesaidcams'flI-I'Ia will have moved around against the underside of the elevator plate and started the latter on its upward movement to be tripped or rocked by" the stops 55 (upper part of Figs. 2 and 14) and the action of the cams in turning from under the plate at the top of their flight thus releasing the package of cigarettesand thepackage of matches for movement into appropriate traps which by this time have been reset. I

\ Resetting of the traps will have been eifected by the time the'elevator reaches the tripping position as a result of engagement of the operated clutch hook (Fig. 11) with the resettingbail I 50 which, through the linkage (Fig. 7), I44 l45'I4'I'-I48 will depress the lever I42 (Fig, 6), causing pins I to be rocked against anyreleased traps for restoration to latched position, and also, through linkag Iii-45a connected with lever I42, causing the gate shaft to rock 'the'fraud-preventive gate 52 into open position.

'switch resetting lever means 5040-10, again opening the .main switch I2 and stopping the driving motor. The machine is now in condition for the next operation.

7 The various advantages and objects of the invention may be accomplished by modifications of the particular embodiment specifically described herein, and it is intended that the appended claims shall include all equivalent arrangements fairly coming within their call.

all

5I, thereby permitting the fraud-preventive gate I shaft 53 to be rocked by action of springs 54 and 54a so that the blocking gate 52 moves from normal dotted line position shown in Fig. 2,1 into closed or blocking full line position. 0

Meanwhile, th operation of motor I4, rotating the main counter or driving shaft 15,-drives sprocket chains IS-15a, causing the' elevator operating cams 'II-flla to descend from normally raised position.- The initial downward movement of the right-hand cam 11 (Figs. 14

r and 16) trips the coin blocking cam I05 to causecoin blocking element I02 to block coin entrances '24 and 25.

As cam 11 continues downward, it transiently engages'the lever portion I30, rocking the match pack ejector shaft I30 a quarter of a turn'throu'gh the star gear means I34-I35, causing the package of matches M to be delivered onto the normally lowered elevator plate I! (Fig. 9).

In the interval of descent of the elevator cams, the ejector operating clutch bail I2I is being rocked forward through the linkage. I23-I24 (Fig. .9) with the main countershaft and the previous trippi of the trap 22 has'freed the Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

a 1. In a vending machine. in combination, a plurality of article display traps, selectively operable means for releasing a certain preselected on of said traps at the option of the vendee to empty said trap,- and refill means comprisingarticle storing means for each of said display traps, and an ejector at the lower end of each of the storing means at a point below said display traps,

.and elevator means, said ejector and elevator coacting and being operably-controlled by said selectively operable means for automatically ejecting an articlefrom the lower end of the storing means corresponding to the trap released on to said elevating means, mechanism operable by said ejector when the latter is moved into ejecting condition aforesaid for restoring released traps to article retaining condition, and means effecting a tilting action of said elevator means when the latter reaches its higher level whereby to dischargesaidl articles disposed on the elevator into said trap emptied by operation'of said selectivelypprable releasing means.

2. In a vending machine, in' combination, a

plurality of merchandise display traps and means releasably latching each of the same in merchandise supporting position, means for selectively, releasing any trap to effect discharge therefrom of the merchandise supported thereby, and means for restoring merchandise to a released trap, said means comprising a storage compartment arranged behind each trap, each compartment having a lower discharge end at a level below said traps, an elevator common to all traps and storage compartments and arranged for movement from a normally lowered position opposite the discharge ends of the several compartments to a raised position above the several traps, ejecting means for effecting transfer of articles from the several storage compartments onto said elevator in normal position, means for moving said elevator into raised position above said traps, means for automatically trippingsaid elevator in raised position to effect discharge of merchandise carried thereby into emptied traps, driving mechanism for actuating said elevator moving means and said ejecting means in timed relationship to effect ejection of an article from a storage compartment onto the elevator in normally lowered position and return said elevator from raised to lowered position, and control means for said driving means actuated cooperably with said selectively operable trap releasing means.

3. In a vending machine, a plurality of article supporting traps and means for releasably latching each trap in article supporting position, an operating plunger associated with each trap and selector means common to all plungers and comprising a member shiftable from a normal position and carrying a plurality of operating members each associated with one of said releasable latching means and each normally disposed out of operative engagement with a corresponding plunger when said shiftable member is in normal position, said shiftable member being movable various amounts away from normal position to dispose certain operating members in operative relationship with their respective plungers, and means for selectively shifting said shiftable member.

4. In a vending machine, in combination, a plurality of traps arranged to support articles on display, and latch means associated with each trap and releasably maintaining the same in article supporting position, an operating plunger hind each trap, merchandise being ejectable from each compartment at a level below that of the traps, ejecting means associated with each compartment, means common to all traps and compartments for elevating discharged articles from the compartments into position for gravitation into corresponding traps, means for automatically tripping said elevating means in elevated position to effect gravitation of merchandise therefrom for the purpose aforesaid, driving mechanism adapted to drive said elevating means for moving the latter into a raised position, said driving means being controlled by said selective linking means for actuation automatically following operation of the latter means in releasing a trap, connecting means operable to selectively connect any ejecting means with said driving mechanism, said connecting means being operatively controlled by the several traps to effect driving connection between the connecting means and the ejecting means of the storage compartment shifting said bar to a normal position, a latch operating lever for each latch means and mounted on said bar adjacent the inner ends of each plunger, each latch operating lever having a portion for operative engagement with the corresponding plunger, the engaging portions of the several levers being normally out of operative relationship with their respective plungers when said bar is in normal position, said bar being shiftable different amounts from normal position to dispose various operating levers in operative relationship with respect to their plungers, mechanism for selectively shifting and holding said bar from normal position, and means operatively controlled by one of said traps for effecting release of said bar for restoration to normal position.

6. In a dispensing machine including a plurality of merchandise supporting traps and releasable latch' means for selectively releasing any of said'traps 'to effect discharge of merchandise therefrom, the combination with said traps of refill means including astorage compartment for each trap, merchandise transfer means common to said traps and compartments and movable from a normal position of alignment into a position to discharge merchandise onto a trap, an

ejector associated with each compartment and operable to eject merchandise therefrom onto said transferring means when the latter is in normallv aligned position, driving mechanism for driving said transferring means and ejectors, connecting means associated with each ejector and operable to connect a particular one of the latter with said driving mechanism, each connecting means being operatively associated with one of said traps and actuated by the latter in released condition. to effect operation of the ejector of the storage compartment corresponding to the released trap, and means actuated by said driving mechanism for effecting transferring movement of said transfer means following operation of any ejector and for restoring said transfer means to said normal position.

7. In a dispensing machine, the combination with a plurality of' releasable horizontally aligned merchandise dispensing traps, of refill mechanism comprising a vertical storage compartment aligned behind each trap and adapted to have merchandise ejected therefrom at a level below the traps, an ejector associated with each storage compartment, driving mechanism common to all ejectors, connecting means associated with each ejector and operable to connect the same with said driving means, mechanism operatively connecting each trap with the connecting means for the ejector of a corresponding storage compartment, and means operable in timed relation to the actuation of said ejectors for transferring ejected merchandise to the corresponding trap.

an elevator in the form of a horizontally extending member common to all traps and compartments and arranged to move from a normally lowered position opposite the bottoms of the several compartments into raised position above the several traps, said ejecting means each being operatively connected to a corresponding one I of said traps operable to eject merchandise from a compartment to rest on said elevator member in a position of alignment with the corresponding trap, means for automatically tilting said elevator member'at' the top of its "flight to discharge therefrom merchandise for movement onto the corresponding trap, and means operativelyassociated with said tripping means fo'rdriv ing said elevator member and any of said'ejectors in timed relationship to effect ejection of: merchandise onto the elevator and movement of the latter into raised and tripped position following tripping of any trap'.

9. In a dispensingmachine, in combination, a plurality of merchandise aligned in horizontal side by side relationship, an elevator mounted to extend behind the several traps for movement from a level below the traps to a level above the same, means for storing a supply of merchandise behind each trap in alignment therewith, said stored supply means having a lower level below the level of said traps and substantially opposite the lower level of movement of said elevator,'ejecting mechanism operable to effect ejection selectively'of merchandise from the supply corresponding to any trap onto said elevator in a position on the latter opposite the corresponding trap, and mechanism op-- erated automatically following release of any trap for actuating said ejecting mechanism to efu feel; ejection of merchandise from the corresponding storage supply means and thereafter to move said elevator'to raised position, means cooperable with said ejecting mechanism upon ejecting operation thereof for restoringreleased traps to' merchandise supportingposition, means for tilting said elevator'when the same reaches raised position to effect gravitating movement therefrom of said merchandise onto the restored trap, and means for restoring said elevator from raised position to normally lowered position to receive merchandise ejected from the storage supply means as aforesaid.

10. In a dispensing machine, merchandise elevating means in the form of an elongated mem- "ber, means mounting said member for vertical movement and ,tilting movementabout its long axis, means yieldably disposing said'memberin an approximately horizontal' plane to support dispensing traps togravitate to lowered position.

said elevator member and permitting the latter 11. In a dispensing machine including merchandise dispensing means in horizontal alignment and correspondingly aligned vertical storage compartments arranged to have merchandise ejected therefrom at a level below that of said dispensing means, elevating means comprising: an elevator plate and guide means mounting the same for vertical movement froma normally lowered position at the, level of ejection of merchandise from saidcompartments to receive said merchandise and elevate the same to a level above said dispensing means, mechanism for moving the elevator plate as aforesaid, means for moving'said plate in raised position to'discharge merchandise carried thereby into said dispensing means and counterweight means for said elevator plate of slightly lesser weight than the latter for assisting said mechanism for moving the plate and for retarding the descent of .said elevator plate to itsnormally lowered position.

-leasable latch means normally supporting said trap with the merchandise stack in said forward 12. In a dispensing machine, article storage compartment raised at a predetermined level above-the bottom thereof and said ejectormeans beingoperaole to move articles from the rearward compartment beneath the raisedstackin the forward compartment and out of the latter, and means following the downward movement of articles in said rearward compartment for tripping said latch means when the last article has been ejected from said rearward compartment to lower said raised stack in the forward compartment so that'the bottommcst articles therein will be in position for dislodgment and ejection by operation of ejecting means as aforesaid.

13.. In a dispensing apparatus, thecombination of front and rear compartments each adapted to contain a stack of articles, meansreleasably sustaining the stack in the front'compartment at a level above the bottom of the stack in the rear compartment, means for ejecting the bottommost articles from the rearcompartment to a position beneath the raised stack, a" succeeding article ejected from the rear compartment ejecting a precedingly ejected article'from its position beneath the raised stack and out of the front compartment, means following the downward movement of the topmost article of, the rear stack for automatically releasing said sustaining means to lower the front stack when the last article has been ejected from the rear stack. and means automatically coupling said ejector and i'ollowing means for joint operation to eject articles from the stack in the front compartment when said stackis lowered as aforesaid. I 14.. In avending machine, in combination, a plurality of upright merchandise storage "compartments, a merchandise displaying trap mounted before each compartment near the upper re gions thereof and releasable from a normal displaying position to discharge merchandise therefrom, ejecting means for each compartment and arranged for actuation to eject merchandise from the bottom regions thereof, means for transferring ejected merchandise to the corresponding displaying trap, and driving mechanism common to said transferring means and said-ejecting means and including connecting mchanismfor selectively connecting any of said ejecting means with said driving mechanism, said connecting mechanism including a common ejector actuating member operated by said driving 10 mechanism, a hook element associated with each ejector and arranged to be moved from a normally inefiective position into an effective position for operative engagement with said ejector actuating member, an operating member operatively associated with each hook element and each of said display traps, means operatively associated with each of said operating members of operation of said transferring and ejecting means to restoremerchandise to the released trap from the corresponding storage compartment.

DAMON D. BRODIE. PAUL C. BLAIR. 

